Thanks to all that joined us for the 2018 Illinois Bike Summit! Our next summit will be held in 2020. Slides from the breakout sessions are available under Program & Session Topics below, and linked to speakers’ names.
Join us on Monday, May 7 at the University of Illinois at Chicago for a day of learning and networking with over 300 bicycle advocates, planners, engineers, transportation agency staff, and other from around the state. With a range of session topics – from bikeway design and tips to advocacy and community engagement – the summit offers strategies to help you make progress in your town.
We’re pleased to announce that Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Rebekah Scheinfeld and Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn will participate as keynote speakers. IDOT is also tentatively scheduled to announce the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program grant winners at the Summit.
The Summit features keynote speakers, breakout sessions organized in three tracks, coffee talks, mobile workshops, lunch, advocacy awards, and a networking reception. Continuing education credits will also be available for professional planners and engineers. Explore session topics, speakers, and event details by clicking on the plus signs below or our take a look at our Summit schedule-at-a-glance here and our full Summit Program here.
Early Bird Registration Rates – Extended through February 28
Non-member: $65
Member: $50
Student: $30
Regular Registration Rates – Beginning March 1
Non-member: $99
Member: $65
Student: $40
Day of Summit Rate – May 7
Non-member, Member, & Student – $100
Registration includes the full day program, buffet lunch, and a networking reception immediately following the summit program.
Join Ride Illinois to be eligible for a members’ discount. An annual membership starts at $30. If you’re unsure of your membership status, email us at info@rideillinois.org.
If the summit cost is an obstacle to your attendance, contact
summit@rideillinois.org to apply for a scholarship or reduced fee.
Monday, May 7, 2018
8:30 am – 9:15 am – Coffee Talks
9:30 am – 3:30 pm – Summit Program
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm – Networking Reception
University of Illinois at Chicago
Student Center East
3rd Floor Conference Center
750 S. Halsted Street
Chicago, Illinois 60607
Paid Parking is available at the Halsted/Taylor Parking Structure across the street from Student Center East building. Enter the parking garage at 760 W. Taylor St.
The second closest university parking lot is located at 1135 S. Morgan St.
Slides from the breakout sessions are linked to speakers’ names below.
See the schedule-at-a-glance or full Summit program
Opening Plenary – Keynote by Chicago DOT Commissioner Rebekah Scheinfeld
Lunch Plenary – Keynote by IDOT Secretary Randy Blankenhorn including announcement of Illinois Transportation Enhancements grant winners; Ride Illinois Awards Presentation
Breakout Sessions – 3 Tracks
Session topics and speakers, as follows:
Infrastructure Track
Small Town and Rural Multimodal Networks Guide – An Introductory Look – Tim Gustafson, Consultant and NACTO-certified trainer
Chicago’s Innovative Bicycle Infrastructure – Brad Huff, Senior Transportation Planner, TY Lin International
Bike-Friendly Road Projects: From Small-Scale Improvements to Complete Street Corridors – Ed Barsotti, Chief Programs Officer, Ride Illinois; Eric Hanss, Principal Pedestrian Planner, Chicago DOT
Closing Difficult Gaps in the Trail Network: A Case Study of the Riverview Bridge in Chicago – Greg Osborne, Director of Civil Engineering, Epstein; Lubka Benak, Project Director Livable Streets Program, Chicago DOT
Mobile Workshop: Chicago’s Bicycle Infrastructure – Chicago DOT staff
Advocacy Track
Bike Walk Every Town Advocacy Training – Maggie Melin, Advocacy Manager, Active Transportation Alliance
Get Involved: Engaging in Election Advocacy in Your Community – Maggie Melin, Advocacy Manager, Active Transportation Alliance
Flipping the Script: Giving Drivers the Legal Burden to Prove Due Care Following a Collision – Brendan Kevenides, Partner, Freeman Kevenides Law Firm
Advocating for Trail Development – Steve Simmons and Matt Gomez, Trail Advocacy Managers, Active Transportation Alliance; Brendan Lynch, Bike and Hike Charleston
Education, Encouragement, and Equity Track
From Divvy to Dockless: A Comparison of Bike Share Models – Mercy Davison, Town Planner, Town of Normal; Alex Hanson, Transportation Planner, Sam Schwartz; Amanda Woodall, Program Director, Chicago DOT; Dave Reed, Expansion Manager, Zagster
Education and Outreach Programs in Chicago and Illinois – Sean Wiedel, Asst. Commissioner, and Lauren Crabtree, Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program Manager, Chicago DOT; Ed Barsotti, Chief Programs Officer, Ride Illinois
An Academic and Advocacy Look at Bike Equity in Chicago – Katherine P Nickele, Research Coordinator, Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children; Dan Black, Director of Community Engagement, Slow Roll Chicago; Lynda Lopez, Reporter, Streetsblog Chicago
Over a Century as a Hub: The History of Cycling in Chicago – Chris McAuliffe, Author of Cycling in Chicago
All attendees are welcome to Coffee Talks will be held at 8:30 am – 9:15 am at the conference site before the Summit program officially begins. These are casual, small group discussions on the topics listed below. Talk descriptions are available in the Summit program.
Coffee Talks
Bike 2 Campus Week Promotion – Kate Yoshida, Office of Sustainability, University of Illinois-Chicago; Tania Sebastian & Elizabeth Adamczyk, Ride Illinois
Bike Advocacy and Climate Change – Wharton Sinkler, Des Plaines Bike/Ped Advisory Committee, volunteer for Citizen’s Climate Lobby
Electric Bikes: New Illinois Law, Potential for Intrastructure, and Promotion – Randy Neufeld, SRAM Cycling Fund
From A to Z: Creative Marketing for Bicycle Events – Rick Brooks, Z Tour and YouAreHereMidwest Partners
Illinois Bicycle Touring Routes – Gary Gilbert, Arlington Heights Bicycle Club; Ed Barsotti, Ride Illinois
Nonprofit Community Bike Shops and Youth Programs – Alex Wilson, West Town Bikes
Normal’s Zagster Bike Sharing Program – Mercy Davison, Town of Normal
Summit attendees can sign up to explore Chicago bike infrastructure by bicycle in our mobile workshops. A morning session (20 participants max) and an afternoon session (40 participants max, broken into 2 groups) will be led by Chicago Department of Transportation experts. Participants will ride Divvy bicycles supplied by the Chicago Department of Transportation.
The demand has already exceeded capacity. However, if you are interested in participating in one of the mobile workshops, you may still select a preference on the registration form. Confirmation of your spot in a workshop will be emailed to you closer to the event date.
Reception 4:30 – 6 pm
Join us the day before the Illinois Bike Summit for our Attendees Bike Ride and Reception. The ride will kick off from the Crown Plaza Hotel West Loop at 3pm and we’ll ride the Lakefront Path south to either 31st St. Beach (10 miles roundtrip) or 57th St. Beach (17 miles roundtrip) to showcase the city’s most scenic bike route.
A reception will follow at Federales Tacos, 180 N. Morgan St., from 4:30 – 6 pm. We’ll enjoy cold drinks, delish tacos, and fresh guacamole and salsa.
This event is open only to registered attendees of the Illinois Bike Summit and RSVP is required. Please email terri@rideillinois.org to RSVP.
Special thanks to our Attendees Ride & Reception sponsor:
Many of the summit’s breakout sessions will likely be approved for planners’ CM credits. A technical track of breakout sessions will also offer 4 hours of PDH credits. We will post detailed continuing education credits info as we finalize all of our program sessions and topics.
Contact us at summit@rideillinois.org if you have any questions.
A block of rooms have been reserved at the Crowne Plaza Chicago West Loop. The hotel is located a short walking distance – about a half mile – from both the Summit at the UIC Student Center East and Union Station. The discounted nightly rate is $165 and available until April 14th.
Crowne Plaza West Loop
733 West Madison, Chicago
Reservations must be made online here or by phone at 312.829.5000. Please mention Group Code FB8 when making reservations online or by phone.
(Unfortunately group booking links are not mobile friendly)
